A simple daily routine that makes my day productive + 10 tips for productivity.
Remote work was never something I did before 2019.
I was working in academia and did not mind going into the office even on no-lecture days.
I even enjoyed the part of my commute where I had to walk 40 mins in total to and from my office to the train station, so 20 mins each way.
The walks were helpful to keep my postpartum body fit. Those 40mins also gave me a moment to just appreciate everything around me. I also loved the structure – I had to be on time or I would miss my train.
What changed?
Then lockdown happened and I transitioned to remote work 100%. We all had to work from home. Every aspect of my job had to be done virtually.
At first, I would get up at the same time everyday as I would have if I was commuting to work. Sit at my desk at home and have really productive days. But soon enough things changed.
When the WFH Novelty wears off..
This is what happens when the work from home novelty wears off and you have no schedule in place.
I slipped into a place where I was no longer on top of things.
Doing things at the very last minute and sometimes feeling overworked.
On some days I would roll out of bed just before a meeting and the unpreparedness I felt started to take a toll on me.
They say habit formation can take anywhere from 59-70 days and 3 months down the line I had formed a new sluggish habit that was going to impact my work. It was time to do something about it!
If you don’t like where you are, move..
Working from home can be really enjoyable when you think of slashing out commute time and being around family. But it’s not as easy as it seems if you don’t stick to a particular structure.
I had to put in the work to restructure my day.
I had to create a routine.
There were certain parts of my routine that had to be done or the entire day would not go as planned. E.g. my morning workouts. I found out about it the hard way. This may not be the same for you. You may be able to stay on track even with a flexible routine.
At the end of the day, It’s really all about finding balance and finding what works for you.
Below I’m going to share the work from home routine I stick to. It helped me get out of rot, get some structure and become more productive. Hopefully it will inspire you to organise your day better.
Time management : My productive WFH daily routine
6:00 am – Wake-up
6:00 am – 6:20 am – Quiet time, I say my prayers, and read streams in the desert or Joyce Meyers. I’ve been thinking of journaling during this time.
6:20 am – 6:45 am – My workout.
This can be jump rope, or a 25 min Grow with Jo YouTube workout. I use jump rope as an opportunity to go outside and soak in some fresh air and the morning sun. On other days when I know I’ll go for a walk during my break, I simply do my work out indoors with this 7 minute workout app.
I just pick a 7 min workout and do it 3 times or a 25 mins workout and do it once. I love high intensity quick workouts. No time to waste haha!
6:50 am – 7:45 am – Getting the kids ready to go to school. And they’re usually out of the door with my husband between 7:45am and 8am
8 am – 8:20 am (very crucial step for me ) – Tidying up all the getting-ready mess. I realised that not doing this before my day started ALWAYS made me feel like something was amiss. Having the entire house organised as well as a clutter free workspace gives me a mental boost.
Just like the feeling you get when you check things off a to do list, making sure everything is back in its place before I start working just seems to make everything else in my day click.
It makes me feel really good about myself.
8:20 am – 8:55 am – Shower time, morning skincare routine, and get dressed.
9:00 am – I write a to do list for my day and then I start working. I start working by checking my email, replying to urgent emails and skimming through less urgent emails. I go back to mark less urgent emails as unread so I can respond to them later in the day.
Now I’m ready to dive right in to work mode – the most productive time of my day is from 9am to noon and so I start with the most challenging task first.
It’s no secret that if you leave a challenging task for last thing in the day – you’ll most likely not get it done. Because where is the brain power? Except evenings are when you have your most productive streak. Then, by all means, save the toughest task for the last.
11:45am to 12:30 pm: I take my lunch break. Of late I’ve been trying to eat really healthy easy to prep meals for lunch so that I don’t spend the entire time cooking and wind up eating past 12:30pm
12:30 pm-4:30 pm – I’m back to deep work. I can have a tea break in between especially if I have meetings but nothing more than 10-15 mins. Sometimes I get distracted during this time of the day but I try to remain productive by: keeping my phone away, journaling, decluttering my desk, brainstorming business ideas or listening to a work related audiobook.
4:30 pm-5:30 pm– I respond to all non- urgent emails because at this time my brain is too tired for deep work.
I also take one final look at my calendar to see what I have lined up for the next day so that I’m mentally prepared. Once this is done, I can now move on to start making dinner.
On most days dinner is just about reheating already prepped food and waiting for my boys to be home. Meal prepping saves me so much time and I can talk about how I meal prep in some other post.
So there you have it.
My work from home routine that works.
I can summarise it with the following tips:
TIPS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY
1. Have a work from home daily schedule
2. Have a morning ritual that gives you joy and makes you feel positive
3. Know your most productive time of the day and do the most challenging tasks then. For me it’s mornings.
4. Use a simple planner or notebook to write your to do list.
5. Take breaks during the day
6. Have a clutter free home and workspace
7.Stay off your phone during your most productive hours
8. When you get bored do something indirectly productive – declutter, listen to an inspiring podcast or audiobook. Audible has a variety of great audiobooks. You should check it out.
9. Prep your meals to save time and to ensure you eat healthy
10. Go outside, for fresh air or for a workout. Take a walk round the block. Your eyes and your mind will thank you.
These are my favourite tips.
Do you have a routine or are you now inspired to create a routine? Feel free to adapt it as you see fit and switch things up depending on your interest.
Ultimately, routines and schedules are great. I grew up hearing this phrase a lot
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
Truer words have never been said.
Whether you are a student, running your own business and/or working a 9-5 from home, having a routine and writing down a plan on what you want to accomplish certainly helps. Following a routine cultivates self-discipline, as it requires consistency and commitment. Additionally, routines provide a sense of purpose and can boost motivation by creating a sense of progress and accomplishment.
I hope this inspires you to schedule regular time for activities like reading, hobbies, work or reflection.
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